Workers at Think Money think happy. The company, which offers help to customers on how best to resolve their financial difficulties, has plenty of satisfied staff as well as clients. Strong leadership from supportive managers and good relationships with colleagues make the firm’s Salford office a great place to work.

The organisation gets an 81% positive score for office teams being fun to work with. This upbeat mood comes from the top. Managing director Stephen Stylianou, who is on first-name terms with all staff, has quarterly buzz sessions in small groups, regularly walks around the business and hands out cards and champagne to everyone on their birthday. His 78% positive score for being an inspiration to people places him in the top 20 across all 100 firms on this list. They have a great deal of faith in him (82%). Measures such as the firm buying car parking spaces for staff at a nearby secure multistorey and a coach to shuttle them to and from the office makes you see why.

The 531 employees thrive on the lively family atmosphere in the company. Workers find it easy to be themselves with colleagues (78%) and care about each other (78%). They are excited about where the company is going (82%), are confident in the abilities of workmates (80%) and would recommend the firm as a place to work (79%).

People are made to feel valued with perks from free tickets to Premiership football games to “think miles”. Worth about £1 each, think miles can be spent on anything from activity days to holidays. They are given for outstanding work, timekeeping, customer service, and on a person’s anniversary of joining.

Other benefits include discounted crãche facilities at five nursery schools in the region, subsidised gym membership and a free concierge service. Staff can also buy and sell holidays.

Think Money also thinks about others. As well as raising funds for a number of charities, every two years it acts as a call centre for Comic Relief. About 200 volunteers stay behind until the early hours of the morning taking calls from the public pledging their money for charity. At 60%, the company’s score for putting something back into the community ranks it in the top 25 nationally.

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